MMA fighter Kimbo Slice dies aged 42 after being taken to hospital in FloridaAmerican mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Kimbo Slice has died aged 42.The fighter was taken to a hospital in South Miami, Florida, on Monday night.
He'd been due to top the bill at London's O2 Arena next month in a rematch against James Thompson at MMA event, Bellator 158.
"We are all shocked and saddened by the devastating and untimely loss of Kimbo Slice, a beloved member of the Bellator family," said Bellator MMA president Scott Coker in a statement.
"One of the most popular MMA fighters ever, Kimbo was a charismatic, larger-than-life personality that transcended the sport.
"Outside the cage he was a friendly, gentle giant and a devoted family man.
"His loss leaves us all with extremely heavy hearts, and our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Ferguson family and all of Kimbo's friends, fans, and teammates."
A sergeant at Coral Springs Police in Miami, Carla Kmiotek, said that the fighter, whose real name was Kevin Ferguson, was admitted to hospital on Monday night.
She says officers were dispatched to his home and said there was no foul play suspected.
Kimbo Slice was born in Nassau, Bahamas, in 1974 but moved to the US as a child.
He rose to fame through his YouTube street fighting videos, which made him an internet sensation. Rolling Stone called him The King of the Web Brawlers.
In 2009 he signed with UFC but lost his first fight in the 10th series of The Ultimate Fighter against Roy Nelson.
Kimbo Slice and Mike Tyson
He signed with MMA organisation Bellator last year beating Ken Shamrock and Dhafir Harris.
However, the fights were turned into no contests after he tested positive for an anabolic steroid, Nandrolone, in February.
Kimbo Slice was forced to pay a $2,500 (£1,722) fine and his fighting licence was revoked in Texas.
Kimbo Slice and Matt Mitrione
His heavyweight rematch against James Thompson next month was being billed as the "tentpole" event at Bellator 158 at London's O2 Arena on 16 July.
The pair's original fight in 2008 was the most-watched fight in the history of mixed martial arts with 7.28 million viewers.
Kimbo Slice won in the third round after the referee controversially stopped the Elite Xtreme Combat contest.
The fighter also won seven boxing bouts between 2011 and 2013 and also acted, appearing in The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption in 2012 as Zulu Kondo.
The fighter has six children and was engaged to long-time girlfriend, Antionette Ray.
